Get Your Salt On for National Margarita Day

You’re sitting there with some salt, tequila and lemon, wondering what to do. Really? With National Margarita Day fast approaching on Feb. 22, we are coming to the rescue. Here are a few fun places to visit, some delicious margaritas to try, and one recipe thrown in for good measure. Here’s to margaritas of many colors! 

• YOT Bar & Kitchen, Lauderdale Marine Center, 2015 SW 20^th St., Fort Lauderdale; 954/953-9000; https://www.yotlmc.com/ This new waterfront restaurant will have specialty margaritas for $8 on Feb. 22, and can be reached by boat or car. The lineup (pictured above) includes the YOTSea Mango margarita with Rock N Roll Mango tequila, Triple Sec, agave nectar, Natalie’s Orange Juice, lime; LMSea with Patron Silver tequila, agave nectar, pineapple juice, lime, habanero bitters; Hibiscus Paloma, with 1800 Silver tequila, hibiscus syrup, lime, grapefruit; Brutus and The Beast, 1800 tequila, watermelon juice/puree, agave nectar, lime. 

• Barcello, 11603 US Highway 1, North Palm Beach; 561/660-8222; https://barcellonpb.com/ Go tropical all the way with the Hibiscus Margarita with Black Sea Salt ($14, pictured above). Made with Cimarron Blanco tequila, broVo Orange Curacao, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, lime juice, agave, Himalayan black salted rim. 

• Bartaco, 2906 NE 207^th St., Aventura; 305;614-8226; https://bartaco.com/location/aventura/ This restaurant chain with three joints in Florida (just one in SoFla) is celebrating with a five-week margarita-inspired cocktail that features a different drink each week. The Northern Lights libation ($12, pictured above, March 25-March 31) is different because it involves a bit of magic. “Made with libélula tequila, elderflower liqueur, fresh squeezed lime juice, and agave simple, this cocktail will transform in front of your eyes when a sidecar of chilled butterfly tea is added with a splash of bartaco blue, which turns purple when added to the drink.”

• La Cocina Coctelera, 1000 E 16^th St., Hialeah; 305/887-8863; https://www.lacocinahialeah.com On Feb. 22, from noon to 2 a.m., you can score this Pots & Pans margarita (pictured above) with El Jimador tequila, St. Germain, Kiwi and lemongrass. Plus it’s BOGO for the day, for $12. 

• And because this is a beautiful drink, here’s a recipe for your home bar skills. It’s the blood orange margarita (pictured above), made with 2 oz. Corralejo Resposado tequila, 3 oz. fresh blood orange juice, ¾ lime juice, 1 oz. simple syrup. Rub the glass rim with the edge of a blood orange slice. Swirl rim through sea salt. Put ice in glass, mix all ingredients together and strain into prepared glass.